Holsters 101
(12 Photos)
If you think there's a wide variety of handguns to choose from these days, wait until you get a load of all the holsters and retention systems folks have devised for carrying them. While it's not possible to review every option on the market, here is an introduction to some of the more common holster types available.
Posted by: B. Gil Horman
Strong Side Inside-The-Waistband (IWB) Holsters
This style of holster offers the same advantages of a strong-side belt holster but with much better concealment for legal carry. The holster still uses an individual's belt for support, but it rests inside of the waistband (IWB). This allows the pants or skirt to act as a partial concealment garment, with the grip of the pistol riding above the belt line.
To completely conceal the handgun, an additional cover garment (jacket, vest or sweater) must be worn. An exception to this are the IWB holsters designed to allow a shirt or blouse to be tucked into the waistband over the pistol grip to conceal it. The holsters shown here are all tuckable IWB designs. The CrossBreed Supertuck Deluxe (Left) features a wide, weight-distributing leather backing with a molded kydex sheath to lock the pistol in place. The Looper Betty (Center) is a lightweight kydex shell designed for use with sub-compact and compact semi-autos. Nate Squared Tactical’s Professional series (Right) is designed for comfort with a soft suede backing to allow the skin against it to breath. All three of these systems are American made.
